Themes in Fight Club

Fight Club covers a lot of themes, most of which overlap in many ways as they have a similar nature. The main themes are iconoclasm, Nihilism, Anarchism and Marxism.

Nihilism as described by Friedrich Nietszche is the belief that in the world there is no meaning, no truth, no morals, no purpose and no values as these values are all constructions of man. In the scene where Tyler and Jack drink together, they realise neither has been in a fight and decide to hit each other. Although it is painful, the pain – unlike many things within his life – is real.

Iconoclasm refers to aggressive statements or actions against any well-established status quo.

Alongside iconoclastic, Fight Club can be seen as being radically Anarchist and Marxist with Tyler Durden’s attempted mobocracy (domination by the masses) in the film. Anarchism is a political philosophy which rejects the concept of compulsory government and supports the elimination of these systems in favour of self-governed societies based on voluntary institutions. On the other hand, Marxist Theory (the political and economic philosophy of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels) focuses on the oppression of the masses by the Bourgeoisies and looks to a socialist and classless society as the utopian end goal. This film shows these concepts by revealing how we have become obsessed with commodities who are at the mercy of (and are exploited by) advertising companies.